Peniv5ylvAivirV'^ocidy 

Soissf of fKep^volv^ion 



^xegi Tnonumenium cere per enmus. 



The Constitution 



Society of Sons of the Revolution 



By-L 



aws 



Pennsylvania Society. 



Constitution accepted June nth, 1890. 
By-IvAws adopted ApriIv 30th, 1894. 



PHILADELPHIA. 
1894. 



A 

Gift m^ 

Mrs. Julian Jaaaes 
1912 



X ennsylvania oociety. 



Instituted April 3d, 1888. 
Incorporated September 29th, 1890. 



FOUNDERS: 

Oliver Christian Bosbyshell, 

George Horace Burgin, 

Herman Burgin, 

Richard McCall Cadwalader, 

James Edward Carpenter, 

Robert Porter Dechert, 

William Churchill Houston, Jr., 

John Woolf Jordan, 

Josiah Granville Leach, 

Elon Dunbar Lockwood, 

Charles Marshall, 

Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker, 

John Biddle Porter, 

William Brooke Rawle, 

William Wayne. 



The Constitution. 



I 



T being evident, from a steady decline of a proper 
celebration of the National holidays of the United 
States of America, that popular concern in the events 
and men of the War of the Revolution is gradually declin- 
ing, and that such lack of interest is attributable, not so 
much to the lapse of time and the rapidly increasing flood 
of immigration from foreign countries, as to the neglect, 
on the part of descendants of Revolutionary heroes, to 
perform their duty in keeping before the public mind the 
memory of the services of their ancestors and of the times 
in which they lived ; therefore, the Society of the Sons 
of the Revolution has been instituted to perpetuate the 
memory of the men who, in the military, naval and civil 
service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress, 
by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the 
country, and to further the proper celebration of the anni- 
versaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent 
events connected with the War of the Revolution ; to 
collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records, and 
other documents relating to that period; to inspire the 
members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of their 
forefathers ; and to promote the feeling of friendship among 
them. 

The General Society shall be divided into State So- 
cieties, which shall meet annually on the day appointed 
therefor in their respective by-laws, and oftener if found 
expedient ; and at such annual meeting the reasons for the 
institution of the Society shall be considered, and the best 
measures for carrying them into effect adopted. 

The State Societies, at each annual meeting, shall 

(3) 



choose, by a majority of the votes present, a President, a 
Vice-President, a Secretary, a Registrar, a Treasurer, a 
Chaplain, and such other ofiBcers as may by them respect- 
ively be deemed necessary, together with a board of man- 
agers consisting of these officers and of nine other members, 
all of whom shall retain their respective positions until 
their successors are duly chosen. 

Each State Society shall cause to be transmitted annu- 
ally, or oftener, to the other State Societies, a circular 
letter calling attention to whatever may be thought worthy 
of observation respecting the welfare of the Society or of 
the general Union of the States, and giving infonnation 
of the officers chosen for the year ; and copies of these 
letters shall also be transmitted to the General Secretary, 
to be preserved among the records of the General Society. 

The State Societies shall regulate all matters respecting 
their own affairs, consistent with the general good of the 
Society ; judge of the qualification of their members, or of 
those proposed for membership, subject, however, to the 
provisions of this Constitution ; and expel any member 
who, by conduct unbecoming a gentleman or a man of 
honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the commu- 
nity in general or of the Society in particular, may render 
himself unworthy to continue in membership. 

In order to form funds that may be respectable, each 
member shall contribute, upon his admission to the Society 
and annually thereafter, such sums as the by-laws of the 
respective State Societies may require ; but any of such 
State Societies may provide for the endowment of mem- 
berships by the payment of proper sums in capitalization, 
which sums shall be properly invested as a permanent fund, 
the income only of which shall be expended. 

The regular meeting of the General Society shall be held 
every three years, and special meetings may be held upon 
the order of the General President or upon the request of 
two of the State Societies, and such meetings shall consist 
of the General Officers and a representation not exceeding 



£^xegi monvmentum, cere per ennius. 



The Constitution 



Society of Sons of the Revolution 



By-L 



aws 



Pennsylvania Society. 



Constitution accepted June nth, 1890. 
By-Laws adopted ApriIv 30th, 1894. 



PHILADELPHIA. 
1894. 



Pennsylvania bociety. 



Instituted April 3d, 1888. 
Incorporated September 29th, 1890. 



FOUNDERS: 

Oliver Christian Bosbyshell, 

George Horace Burgin, 

Herman Burgin, 

Richard McCall Cadwalader, 

James Edward Carpenter, 

Robert Porter Dechert, 

William Churchill Houston, Jr., 

John Woolf Jordan, 

Josiah Granville Leach, 

Elon Dunbar Lockwood, 

Charles Marshall, 

Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker, 

John Biddle Porter, 

William Brooke Rawle, 

William Wayne. 



The Constitution. 



TT being evident, from a steady decline of a proper 
■^ celebration of the National holidays of the United 
States of America, that popular concern in the events 
and men of the War of the Revolution is gradually declin- 
ing, and that such lack of interest is attributable, not so 
much to the lapse of time and the rapidly increasing flood 
of immigration from foreign countries, as to the neglect, 
on the part of descendants of Revolutionary heroes, to 
perform their duty in keeping before the public mind the 
memory of the services of their ancestors and of the times 
in which they lived ; therefore, the Society of the Sons 
of the Revolution has been instituted to perpetuate the 
memory of the men who, in the military, naval and civil 
service of the Colonies and of the Continental Congress, 
by their acts or counsel, achieved the Independence of the 
country, and to further the proper celebration of the anni- 
versaries of the birthday of Washington, and of prominent 
events connected with the War of the Revolution ; to 
collect and secure for preservation the rolls, records, and 
other documents relating to that period ; to inspire the 
members of the Society with the patriotic spirit of their 
forefathers ; and to promote the feeling of friendship among 
them. 

The General Society shall be divided into State So- 
cieties, which shall meet annually on the day appointed 
therefor in their respective by-laws, and oftener if found 
expedient ; and at such annual meeting the reasons for the 
institution of the Society shall be considered, and the best 
measures for carrying them into effect adopted. 

The State Societies, at each annual meeting, shall 

(3) 



choose, by a majority of the votes present, a President, a 
Vice-President, a Secretary, a Registrar, a Treasurer, a 
Chaplain, and such other officers as may by them respect- 
ively be deemed necessary, together with a board of man- 
agers consisting of these officers and of nine other members, 
all of whom shall retain their respective positions until 
their successors are duly chosen. 

Each State Society shall cause to be transmitted annu- 
ally, or oftener, to the other State Societies, a circular 
letter calling attention to whatever may be thought worthy 
of observation respecting the welfare of the Society or of 
the general Union of the States, and giving information 
of the officers chosen for the year ; and copies of these 
letters shall also be transmitted to the General Secretary, 
to be preserved among the records of the General Society. 

The State Societies shall regulate all matters respecting 
their own affairs, consistent with the general good of the 
Society ; judge of the qualification of their members, or of 
those proposed for membership, subject, however, to the 
provisions of this Constitution ; and expel any member 
who, by conduct unbecoming a gentleman or a man of 
honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the commu- 
nity in general or of the Society in particular, may render 
himself unworthy to continue in membership. 

In order to form funds that may be respectable, each 
member shall contribute, upon his admission to the Society 
and annually thereafter, such sums as the by-laws of the 
respective State Societies may require ; but any of such 
State Societies may provide for the endowment of mem- 
berships by the payment of proper sums in capitalization, 
which sums shall be properly invested as a permanent fund, 
the income only of which shall be expended. 

The regular meeting of the General Society shall .be held 
every three years, and special meetings may be held upon 
the order of the General President or upon the request of 
two of the State Societies, and such meetings shall consist 
of the General Officers and a representation not exceeding 



five deputies from each State Society, and the necessary 
expenses of such meeting shall be borne by the State 
Societies. 

At the regular meeting, a General President, Vice-Presi- 
dent, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant 
Treasurer, and Chaplain shall be chosen by a majority of 
the votes present, to serve until the next regular general 
meeting, or until their successors are duly chosen. 

At each general meeting the circular letters which have 
been transmitted by the several State Societies shall be 
considered, and all measures taken which shall conduce to 
the general welfare of the Society. 

The General Society shall have power at any meeting to 
admit State Societies thereto, and to entertain and deter- 
mine all questions affecting the qualifications for member- 
ship in or the welfare of any State Society as may, by 
proper memorial, be presented by such State Society for 
consideration. 

Any male person above the age of twenty-one years, of 
good character, and a descendant of one who, as a military, 
naval, or marine officer, soldier, sailor, or marine, in actual 
service, under the authority of any of the thirteen Colonies 
or States or of the Continental Congress, and remaining 
always loyal to such authority, or a descendant of one who 
signed the Declaration of Independence, or of one who, as 
a member of the Continental Congress or of the Congress 
of any of the Colonies or States, or as an official appointed 
by or under the authority of any such legislative bodies, 
actually assisted in the establishment of American Inde- 
pendence by services rendered during the War of the Rev- 
olution, becoming thereby liable to conviction of treason 
against the Goverment of Great Britain, but remaining 
always loyal to the authority of the Colonies or States, 
shall be eligible to membership in the Society. 

The Secretary of each State Society shall transmit to the 
General Secretary a list of the members thereof, together 
with the names and official designations of those from whom 



such members derive claim to membership, and thereafter 
upon the admission of members in each State Society, the 
Secretary thereof shall transmit to the General Secretary 
information respecting such members similar to that herein 
required. 

The Society shall have an insignia, which shall be a 
badge suspended from a ribbon by a ring of gold ; the badge 
to be elliptical in form, with escaloped edges, one and one- 
quarter inches in length, and one and one-eighth inches in 
width ; the whole surmounted by a gold eagle, with wings 
displayed, inverted ; on the obverse side a medallion of 
gold in the centre, elliptical in form, bearing on its face 
the figure of a soldier in Continental uniform, with musket 
slung ; beneath, the figures 1775 ; the medallion surrounded 
by thirteen raised gold stars of five points each upon a 
border of dark blue enamel. On the reverse side, in the 
centre, a medallion corresponding in form to that on the 
obverse, and also in gold, bearing on its face the Houdon 
portrait of Washington in bas-relief, encircled by the 
legend, " Sons of the Revolution ;" beneath, the figures 
1883 ; and upon the reverse of the eagle the number of the 
badge to be engraved ; the medallion to be surrounded by 
a plain gold border, confonning in dimensions to the ob- 
verse ; the ribbon shall be dark blue, ribbed and watered, 
edged with buff, one and one-quarter inches wide, and one 
and one-half inches in displayed length. 

The insignia of the Society shall be worn by the mem- 
bers on all occasions when they assemble as such for any 
stated purpose or celebration, and may be worn on any 
occasion of ceremony ; it shall be carried conspicuously on 
the left breast, but members who are or have been officers 
of the Society may wear the insignia suspended from the 
ribbon around the neck. 

The custodian of the insignia shall be the General Secre- 
tary, who shall issue them to members of the Society under 
such proper rules as may be formulated by the General 
Society, and he shall keep a register of such issues wherein 



each insignia issued, may be identified by the number 
thereof. 

The seal of the Society shall be one and seven-eighths 
inches in diameter, and shall consist of the figure of a 
Minute-man in Continental uniform, standing on a ladder 
leading to a belfry ; in his left hand he holds a musket and 
an olive branch, whilst his right grasps a bell-rope ; above, 
the cracked Liberty Bell ; issuing therefrom a ribbon bear- 
ing the motto of the Society, Exegi rnonuvientum csre 
perennms ; across the top of the ladder, on a ribbon, the 
figures 1776 ; and on the left of the Minute-man, and also 
on a ribbon, the figures 1883, the year of the formation of 
the Society ; the whole encircled by a band three-eighths 
of one inch wide ; thereon at the top thirteen stars of five 
points each ; at the bottom the name of the General So- 
ciety, or of the State Society to which the seal belongs. 



By-Laws. 



SECTION I. 

This Society shall be known by the name, style and g^^^^^^^*^^ 
title of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the 
Revolution. 

SECTION 11. 

Any male person above the age of twenty-one years, of f^^^'f^^^er"' 
good character, and a lineal descendant of one who, as a ship, 
military, naval, or marine officer, soldier, sailor, or marine, 
in actual service, under the authority of any of the thirteen 
Colonies or States or of the Continental Congress, and re- 
maining always loyal to such authority, or a lineal descend- 
ant of one who signed the Declaration of Independence, or 
of one who, as a member of the Continental Congress, or 
of the Congress of any of the Colonies or States, or as an 
official appointed by or under the authority of any such 
legislative bodies, actually assisted in the establishment of 
American Independence by services rendered during the 
War of the Revolution, becoming thereby liable to convic- 
tion of treason against the Government of Great Britain, 
but remaining always loyal to the authority of the Colonies 
or States, shall be eligible to membership in the Society. 

Provided^ That when the claim of eligibility is based 
on the service of an ancestor in the ' ' minute men ' ' or 
' ' militia, ' ' it must be satisfactorily shown that such an- 
cestor was actually called into the service of the State or 
United States, and performed garrison or field duty ; and 

Provided further^ That when the claim of eligibility is 
based on the service of an ancestor as a " sailor ' ' or 
"marine," it must in like manner be shown that such 
service was other than shore duty and regularly performed 

(9) 



lO 

in the Continental Navy, or the navy of one of the original 
thirteen States, or on an armed vessel, other than a mer- 
chant ship, which sailed under letters of marque and 
reprisal, and that such ancestor of the applicant was duly 
enrolled in the ship's company, either as an officer, seaman, 
or otherwise than as a passenger ; and 

Provided further^ That when the claim of eligibility is 
based on the service of an ancestor as an "official," such 
service must have been performed in the civil service of 
the United States, or of one of the thirteen original States, 
and must have been sufficiently important in character to 
have rendered the official liable to arrest and imprisonment, 
the same as a combatant, if captured by the enemy, as well 
as liable to conviction of treason against the Government 
of Great Britain, 

Service in the ordinary duties of a civil office, the per- 
formance of which did not particularly and effectively aid 
the American Cause, shall not constitute eligibility. 

In the construction of this article, the Volunteer Aides- 
de-Camp of General Officers in Continental Service, who 
were duly announced as such and who actually served in 
the field during a campaign, shall be comprehended as 
having performed qualifying service. 

The civil officials and military forces of the State of 
Vermont, during the War of the Revolution, shall also be 
comprehended in the same manner as if they had belonged 
to one of the thirteen original States. 

No service of an ancestor shall be deemed as qualifying 
service for membership in the ' 'Sons of the Revolution' ' 
where such ancestor, after assisting in the cause of American 
Independence, shall have subsequently either adhered to the 
enemy, or failed to maintain an honorable record through- 
out the War of the Revolution. 

No person shall be admitted unless he be eligible under 
one of the provisions of this article, nor unless he be of 
good moral character and be judged worthy of becoming a 
member. 



II 
SECTION III. 
Applicants for adinission to niembersliip in this Society Nomination 

^ ^ . and election to 

must be proposed by two members in good standing, to membership, 
whom the applicant is personally well known. 

The proposers to give the full name, occupation, and 
residence of the candidate, and other recommendations as 
to his worthiness for membership in the Society, This 
information shall be sent to the Secretary, who shall submit 
the same to the Board of Managers, and if approved by 
them, he shall furnish application blanks which must be 
filled out in accordance with the instructions accompanying 
the same, and be forwarded to the Secretary, who shall 
submit them to the Committee on Applications, and upon 
their approval the Board of Managers shall have the power 
to elect the applicant to membership. 

Applications shall contain, or be accompanied by, proof 
of eligibility, and such applications and proofs shall be 
submitted to the Board of Managers, who shall have full 
power to determine the qualifications of the applicants 
who, upon favorable action by said Board, and upon 
payment of the initiation fee, shall thereupon become 
members of the Society. 

SECTION IV. 



The initiation fee shall be ten (lo) dollars, payable within ^^^^ f"*" 

bcrsliip. 

thirty days after date of election ; the annual dues three (3) 
dollars, payable in advance. The payment at one time of 
fifty (50) dollars shall constitute a life membership. The 
payment at one time of one hundred (100) dollars shall 
constitute a perpetual or endowed membership, and upon 
the death of the member so paying, the membership shall 
be held by his eldest son, or such other lineal descendant 
from the ancestor whom he claims as he may nominate ; in 
failure of such nomination having been made, the Board of 
Managers may decide which one of such lineal descendants 
shall hold the membership : Provided^ alzvays^ That the 



mem- 



12 

Society reserves to itself fhe privilege of rejecting, by its 
Board of Managers, any nomination that may not be accept- 
able to it. All applicants for life or endowed memberships 
shall be exempt from the payment of the initiation fee, and 
annual dues from the date of their admission ; after admis- 
sion, any member availing himself of a life or endowed 
membership shall be exempt from future annual dues only. 



Permanent 
fund. 



Annual 
meeting and 
election of 
officers. 



SECTION V. 

All initiation, life, and endowed membership fees, as 
well as donations and legacies, unless otherwise specified 
by the donor, which shall hereafter be paid to the Society, 
.shall remain forever to the use of the Society as a perma- 
nent fund. 

SECTION VI. 

The annual meeting of the Society shall be held in the 
city of Philadelphia, on the third day of April, at which a 
general election of officers, managers and delegates, by 
ballot, shall take place, except when such date shall fall on 
Simday, in which event the meeting shall be held on the 
following day. In such election a majority of the ballots 
given for any officer shall constitute a choice ; but if, on 
the first ballot, no person shall receive such majority, then 
a further balloting shall take place, in which a plurality of 
votes given for any officer shall determine the choice. 



Order of 

business. 



SECTION VII. 

The following shall be the order of business at the 
annual meetings of the Society : — 



Prayer by the chaplain. 

Reading of the minutes of the la.st meeting. 

Reports of officers and committees. 

Unfinished business. 

New business. 



13 

6. Election of officers — an appointment by the President 
of a judge and two tellers to count the votes and declare 
the result. 

7. Reading of the rough minutes of the meeting. 

SECTION VIII. 

At all meetings of the Society twenty-five (25) members Quorum, 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

SECTION IX. 

Ayes and nays shall be called at any meeting of the ^-yes and nays. 
Society upon the demand of five members. 

SECTION X. 

The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, officers. 
First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, 
Treasurer, Registrar, Historian, Chaplain, and nine Man- 
agers, who shall be elected as herein provided for. 

SECTION XI. 

The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice- Presiding 
Presidents, in the order named, or in their absence a 
chairman pro tempore^ shall preside at all meetings of 
the Society, and shall have a casting vote. He shall 
preserve order, and shall decide all questions of order, 
subject to an appeal to the Society, 

SECTION XII. 

The Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence secretarj'. 
of the Society. He shall notify all members of their elec- 
tion, and of such other matters as he may be directed by 
the Society. He shall have charge of the seal, certificate 
of incorporation and by-laws, and records of the Society, 
other than those deposited with the Registrar. He, to- 
gether with the presiding officer, shall certify all acts of 
the Society. He shall, under the direction of the President 



14 

or Vice-President, give due notice of the time and place of 
all meetings of the Society, and attend the same. He 
shall keep fair and accurate records of all the proceedings 
and orders of the Society ; and shall give notice to the 
several officers of all votes, orders, resolves, and proceed- 
ings of the Society affecting them, or appertaining to their 
respective duties. He shall be Secretary of the Board of 
Managers, and shall keep the record of their meetings in 
the reeular minute-book of the Society. 



Treasurer. 



SECTION XIII. 

The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and 
securities of the Society ; and so often as those funds shall 
amount to one hundred (lOo) dollars, they shall be 
deposited in some bank or trust company in the city of 
Philadelphia, to the credit of the "Pennsylvania Society 
of Sons of the Revolution," and shall be drawn thence on 
the check of the Treasurer for the purposes of the Society 
only. Out of these funds he shall pay such sums as may 
be ordered by the Society or by the Board of Managers. 
He shall keep a true account of his receipts and payments, 
and, at each annual meeting, render the same to the 
Society. A committee shall be appointed by the President 
to audit his accounts. He shall give such security as shall 
be required by the Board of Managers. 



SECTION XIV. 

Registrar. ^he Registrar shall keep a roll of members, and in his 

hands shall be lodged all the proofs of membership qualifi- 
cation, and all the historical and other papers of which the 
Society may become possessed ; and he, under the direction 
of the Board of Managers, shall make copies of such similar 
documents as the owners thereof are or may not be willing 
to leave permanently in the keeping of the Society. He, 
if practicable, shall be a member of the Historical Society 
of Pennsylvania. 



15 

SECTION XV. 

The Historian shall keep a detailed record, to be de- Historian. 
posited with the Registrar, of all the historical and com- 
memorative celebrations of the Society ; and he shall edit 
and prepare for publication such historical addresses, 
essays, papers, and other documents of an historical charac- 
ter, other than a register of members, as the Secretary may 
be required to publish ; and at every annual meeting, if 
there shall be a necrological list for the year then closing, 
he shall submit the same with carefully prepared biog- 
raphies of the deceased members. 

SECTION XVI. 

The Chaplain shall be a regularly ordained minister of a chaplain. 
Christian denomination, and it shall be his duty to open 
all meetings of the Society with customary chaplaincy 
services, and perform such other duties as ordinarily 
appertain to such office. 

SECTION XVII. 
The Board of Managers shall consist of seventeen, f"^"^*^"^ 

'^ . Managers. 

namely : the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice- 
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Historian, and 
Chaplain, ex-officio^ and nine other members ; at least three 
of the latter shall not be residents of the city of Phila- 
delphia, and all of whom shall be elected at the annual 
meeting. In case of a vacancy in any of these offices the 
Board may fill the same until the next annual election. 

They shall judge of the qualifications of the candidates 
for admission to the Society, and shall have power to elect 
the same to membership. They shall have charge of all 
special meetings of the Society, and shall, through the 
Secretary, call special meetings at any time, upon the 
written request of ten members of the Society, and at such 
other times as they see fit. They shall reconnnend plans for 



( 



i6 

promoting the objects of the Society, shall digest and 
prepare business, and shall authorize the disbursement and 
expenditure of unappropriated money in the treasury for 
the purposes of the Society. They shall generally super- 
intend the interests of the Society, and execute all such 
duties as may be committed to them by the Society. At 
each annual meeting of the Society they shall make a 
general report. 

At all meetings of the Board of Managers five members 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 



Committee on 
applications. 



SECTION XVIII. 

The chairman of the Board of Managers shall appoint 
annually three members thereof as a Committee on 
Applications, whose duty it shall be to pass upon the 
applications of candidates for admission to the Society, and 
report to the Board of Managers. 



Expulsion or 
suspension of 
members. 



SECTION XIX. 

The Board of Managers shall have power to suspend any 
enrolled member of this Society who may, in the judgment 
of the Board, render himself unworthy to continue a 
member : Provided^ That he shall have received at least 
thirty days' notice of the complaint preferred again.st him, 
and of the time and place for hearing the same, and have 
been thereby afforded an opportunity to be heard ; and 
Provided further^ That such suspension shall become 
absolute, and such member shall cease to be a member 
unless he shall within thirty (30) days after notice of such 
suspension appeal to the Society, when a special meeting 
shall be called to pass upon and decide the case. 

The Board of Managers shall also have the power to drop 
from the roll the name of any enrolled member of the 
Society who shall be at least two years in arrears in the 
payment of dues, and who, on notice to pay the same, shall 
fail and neglect to do so within thirty days thereafter, and, 



17 

upon being thus dropped, his membership shall cease and 
terminate, but he may be restored to membership at any 
time by the Board of Managers on his application therefor, 
and upon his payment of all such arrears and of the annual 
dues from the date when he was dropped to the date of 
his restoration. 

SECTION XX. 

An annual church service shall be held on the Sunday commemora- 
nearest to the 19th day of December, commemorative of ^'"'^ ^^'^'^^®' 
the commencement of the American Army's encampment 
at Valley Forge. Other commemorative services may be 
held at the discretion of the Board of Managers. 

SECTION XXI. 

No alteration of the By-Laws of the Society shall be Alteration of 
made unless such alteration shall have been proposed at a ^^" ^^^' 
previous meeting, and shall be adopted by two-thirds of 
the members present at a subsequent meeting of the 
Society, at least two weeks' notice thereof having been 
given to each member. 



CHARTER 

OF THE 

Pennsylvania Society 

OF 

Sons of the Revolution. 



To the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Cojudwji Pleas ^ 
No. /, of the County of Philadelphia : — 

In compliance with the reqnirements of an Act of the 
General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
entitled "An Act to provide for the Incorporation and 
Regulation of certain Corporations," approved the twenty- 
ninth day of April, A. D. 1874, and the supplements 
thereto, the undersigned, all of whom are citizens of Penn- 
sylvania, having associated themselves together for the 
purpose of maintaining a Society to keep alive among 
themselves and their descendants the patriotic spirit of the 
men who, in military, naval, and civil service, by their 
acts and counsel, achieved American Independence; to 
collect and secure for preservation the manuscript rolls, 
records, and other documents relating to the War of the 
Revolution, and to promote social intercourse and good 
feeling among its members now and hereafter, and desiring 
that they may be incorporated according to law, do hereby 
certify 

First. — The name of the proposed corporation is the 
' ' Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution. ' ' 

Second. — Said corporation is fonned for the purpose of 
maintaining a society for patriotic purposes in connection 

(i8j 



19 

with the War of American Independence, the collection 
and preservation of manuscripts, records, and documents 
relating to the War of the Revolution, and for social 
enjoyment and intercourse. 

Third. — The business of said corporation is to be trans- 
acted in the County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania. 

Fourth. — Said corporation is to exist perpetually. 

Fifth. — The names and residences of the subscribers are as 
follows : William Wayne, Paoli, Chester County, Penn- 
sylvania; Richard M. Cadwalader, 1614 Locust Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; GEORGE H. Burgin, 76 
Chelten Avenue, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania; Robert P. Dechert, 406 South Broad Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; John W. Jordan, 806 North 
Forty-first Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; J. Edward 
Carpenter, 228 South Twenty-first Street, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; J. Granville Leach, 2118 Spruce Street, 
Philadelphia. 

Sixth. — The number of Directors of said corporation is 
fixed at nine (9), and the names and residences of those 
chosen for the first year are : J. Edward Carpenter, 228 
South Twenty-first Street, Philadelphia, Penna.; Oliver 
C. Bosbyshell, 4046 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Penna. ; 
E. Dunbar Lockwood, Aldine Hotel, Philadelphia, Penna.; 
Samuel W. Pennypacker, 1540 North Fifteenth Street, 
Philadelphia, Penna.; Herman Burgin, 76 Chelten Ave- 
nue, Germantown, Philadelphia, Penna. ; Thomas McKean, 
1925 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; CharlES 
Marshall, Germantown, Philadelphia, Penna.; William 
Henry Egle, Harrisburg, Penna.; Clifford Stanley 
Sims, Mount Holly, New Jersey. There is also a President 
of the said corporation, a Vice-President, Secretary, Treas- 
urer, Registrar, and Chaplain and Historian. 



30 

The officers chosen" for the first year are: President, 
WiivLiAM Wayne, Paoli, Chester County, Pennsylvania; 
Vice-President, Richard M. Cadwalader, 1614 Locust 
Street, Philadelphia; Secretary, George H. Burgin, M.D., 
Chelten Avenue, Germantown, Philadelphia; Treasurer, 
Robert P. DecherT, 406 South Broad Street, Philadel- 
phia; Registrar, John W. Jordan, 806 North Forty-first 
Street, Philadelphia; Chaplain, Rev. George Woolsey 
Hodge, 334 South Thirteenth Street, Philadelphia; His- 
torian, J. Granville Leach, 2 118 Spruce Street, Phila- 
delphia. 

Seventh. — There is no capital stock. 

Witness our hands and seals this fourth day of 
July, A. D. 1890. 

William Wayne, Robert P. Dechert, 

Richard M. Cadwalader, John W. Jordan, 
George H. Burgin, J. E. Carpenter, 

J. Granville Leach. 



Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
County of Philadelphia, 

Before me, the subscriber. Recorder of Deeds of said 
County, personally appeared Richard M. Cadwalader, 
George H. Burgin and J. Edward Carpenter, three of 
the subscribers to the above and foregoing certificate of 
Incorporation of the " Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the 
Revolution," and in due fonn of law acknowledged the 
same to be their act and deed. 

Witness my hand and official seal, this twelfth day 
of July, 1890. 

JOS. K. FLETCHER, 

Deputy Recorder. 



21 



DECREE. 

In the Court of Common Pleas No. 4, of Philadelphia 
County. 

In the matter of the Incorporation of the " Pennsylvania 
Society of Sons of the Revolution." 

And now to wit, this 29th day of September, A. D. 1890, 
the above certificate of Incorporation having been on file 
in the oflSce of the Prothonotary of said Court since the 
twelfth day of July, A. D. 1890, and due proof of publica- 
tion of notice of intended application having been pre- 
sented to me, I do hereby certify that I have perused and 
examined said Instrument and find the same to be in proper 
form and within the purposes named in the first class of 
corporations specified in Section 2 of the Act of April 29th, 
1874, and that purposes are lawful and not injurious to the 
community. It is therefore ordered and decreed that the 
said charter be approved and it is hereby approved, and 
upon the recording of the said Charter and its endorsements 
and this order in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in 
and for said County, which is now hereby ordered, the 
subscribers thereto and their associates shall thenceforth be 
a corporation for the purpose and upon the terms and 
under the name therein stated. 

M. ARNOLD, 
Judge of Court of Common Pleas No. 4, 
First J2idicial District of Penna. 

Recorded in the office for the recording of Deeds, &c., 
in and for the City and County of Philadelphia, in Charter 
Book No. 16, page 413, &c. 

Witness my hand and seal of office, this tenth day 
of November, A, D. 1890. 

GEO. S. PIERIE, 

* Recorder of Deeds. 



21 



DECREE. 

In the Court of Common Pleas No. 4, of Philadelphia 
County. 

In the matter of the Incorporation of the " Pennsylvania 
Society of Sons of the Revolution." 

And now to wit, this 29th day of September, A. D. 1890, 
the above certificate of Incorporation having been on file 
in the ofiice of the Prothonotary of said Court since the 
twelfth day of July, A. D. 1890, and due proof of publica- 
tion of notice of intended application having been pre- 
sented to me, I do hereby certify that I have perused and 
examined said Instrument and find the same to be in proper 
form and within the purposes named in the first class of 
corporations specified in Section 2 of the Act of April 29th, 
1874, and that purposes are lawful and not injurious to the 
community. It is therefore ordered and decreed that the 
said charter be approved and it is hereby approved, and 
upon the recording of the said Charter and its endorsements 
and this order in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in 
and for said County, which is now hereby ordered, the 
subscribers thereto and their associates shall thenceforth be 
a corporation for the purpose and upon the terms and 
under the name therein stated. 

M. ARNOLD, 

Judge of Court of Conrnon Pleas No. 4, 
First Judicial District of Penna. 



Recorded in the office for the recording of Deeds, &c., 
in and for the City and County of Philadelphia, in Charter 
Book No. 16, page 413, &c. 

Witness my hand and seal of office, this tenth day 
of November, A. D. 1890. 

GEO. S. PIERIE, 

Recorder of Deeds. 



I 



